Frances Goitsemang Baard (1909-1997)
Why Kimberley Matters
Over the years, we have noticed that many of our guests—whether visiting Kimberley for business or leisure—have wondered why this remarkable city has played such an important role in South Africa's history over the past 160 years.
These pages invite you on a coffee-table journey through Kimberley's past, from the discovery of the Eureka Diamond in 1867 and the Great Diamond Rush, through wars, political change and the rise of the world's diamond industry, to the city we know today. They are not intended to be an academic history, but rather an enjoyable introduction to the people, places and events that shaped Kimberley.
So, make yourself comfortable, pour a cappuccino or a cup of chai, and enjoy exploring the remarkable story of one of South Africa's most fascinating cities.
The bronze statue of Frances Baard was unveiled on National Women's Day, 9 August 2009, at the corner of Bultfontein and Lennox Roads in Kimberley.
Kimberley's Daughter of Courage
Frances Baard was one of South Africa's most respected anti-apartheid activists and trade union leaders. Born in Kimberley in 1909, she devoted much of her life to campaigning for equal rights, fair working conditions and political freedom, enduring imprisonment, solitary confinement and years of banning for her beliefs.
Today, her name lives on through the Frances Baard District Municipality, while a bronze statue in Kimberley honours one of the city's most remarkable daughters.
Early Life in Kimberley
Frances Maswabi (sometimes recorded as Masuabi) was born on 1 October 1909 in Green Point, Beaconsfield, Kimberley. She attended Racecourse Primary School, Lyndhurst Road School in Malay Camp, and St Cyprian's "Perseverance" School before training to become a teacher. Although she qualified, she was employed at a mission school for only a year before losing her position when a male teacher became available—a reminder of the discrimination many women faced at the time. She later moved to Port Elizabeth, where she found work as a domestic servant and later as a factory worker.
Finding Her Voice
Working in factories exposed Baard to poor working conditions and racial discrimination. These experiences drew her into the trade union movement and eventually into political activism. She joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1948 and soon became an active organiser in the ANC Women's League.
During the 1952 Defiance Campaign, she helped support families of imprisoned activists while organising women throughout the Eastern Cape. Her leadership grew steadily, and she became President of the Port Elizabeth branch of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), later serving on its national executive committee.
Frances Baard
The Freedom Charter and Women's March
Frances Baard helped draft the Freedom Charter, adopted at Kliptown in 1955. A year later, she joined approximately 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956 to protest against the extension of pass laws to women. The march has since become one of the defining moments in South Africa's struggle for equality and is commemorated each year on National Women's Day.
Imprisonment and Banning
Baard paid a heavy personal price for her activism. She was arrested during the 1956 Treason Trial, detained again in 1960, and in 1963 spent twelve months in solitary confinement.
In 1964, she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for her involvement with the ANC under apartheid security legislation.
Following her release in 1969, she was placed under banning orders and forced to live in Mabopane, far from her family and community. Despite these restrictions, she continued to support democratic organisations during the 1980s.
Voices for Social Change in Kimberley
Kgosi Galeshewe, Kgosi Jantjie & Kgosi Toto - defenders of land and independence
Olive Schreiner – novelist, feminist and social critic
Sol Plaatje – writer, journalist and founding political leader
Arthur & Mary Letele – medical pioneers and community leaders
ZK Matthews – educator, lawyer and constitutional thinker
Frances Baard – trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist
Robert Sobukwe – political thinker and pan-Africanist leader
Mittah Seperepere – organiser, diplomat and parliamentarian
"My Spirit Is Not Banned"
In her autobiography, My Spirit Is Not Banned, Baard described the daily reality of South Africa's pass laws. The title of her memoir became a powerful expression of resilience in the face of persecution.
"A pass is this little book you must get when you are 16... You must carry it with you all the time because the police can ask you, 'Where is your pass?' any time."
Remembering Frances Baard
Frances Baard died in Mabopane on 12 December 1997. Her contribution has been recognised in many ways. In 2001, the former Diamantveld District Council was renamed the Frances Baard District Municipality in her honour.
Eight years later, on National Women's Day in 2009, a bronze statue of Frances Baard was unveiled at the corner of Bultfontein and Lennox Roads in Kimberley. The inscription bears the words that best capture her life's work:
"My spirit is not banned.
I still say I want freedom in my lifetime."
For visitors to Kimberley, the statue is a reminder that the city's history is not only about diamonds and industry, but also about individuals whose courage helped shape modern South Africa.
The bronze statue of Frances Baard was unveiled by Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins on National Women's Day, 9 August 2009, at the corner of Bultfontein and Lennox Roads in Kimberley. (Photo: Nordcaap)
Continue Exploring Kimberley
Whether your interests lie in history, culture, dining, shopping, entertainment, or simply discovering somewhere new, we hope these guides help you make the most of your time in Kimberley. If you're planning a visit to the City that Sparkles, Solomon Edwardian Guest House offers elegant accommodation in the historic suburb of Beaconsfield. Ideally situated for business and leisure travellers alike, The Solomon provides a comfortable base from which to explore.